Vote on Facebook Page: to Vermont (ben and Jerry’s ice cream headquarters) Round trip 900 miles..2013 Victory Cross Country 106cc motor(1731) custom tour seat tri oval pipes kicker speakers. Color is sunset red
Categories: BestFN Bagger Contest
“Like” to vote – BestFN Bagger Contest – Owner “Brandon” 2011 streetglide lowered 2 inches extended bags and fender 21 inch front rim, 16 inch monkey bars and matching crash bar
Categories: BestFN Bagger Contest
To receive a 10 in the following categories, it’s best to give examples of 10s for specific rides that we have taken. Ratings (all out of 10). Total Rating = 10 Road Quality: Perfectly paved. No sand or rocks in the road at all. Road without creases or frost-heaves. No outlets, cross streets or driveways. Perfect road in 2013 = Tail of the Dragon. There are absolutely no cross streets and the condition was perfect in Spring 2013. Ride Length […]
Categories: Rated Maps
2012 Roadglide –Vote on Facebook Page Stripped down and stretched bags & fender with speaker lids Thunder header Heavy breather Thunder max 17 inch apes Bad lander 52 fat spoke 21 wheel Performance machine grips Painted bike flat white Florescent orange powder coat Hopefully some pinstripe an stretched tank this winter an motor work
Categories: BestFN Bagger Contest
Harley Davidson Crossbones 120R Motor – Vote on Facebook Page 120R Motor Carlini 16″ Pissed Apes Bars PM Controls Brass Grips Rideright front wheel PM Race wheel with 4″ hub 200 Rear tire Bassani Road Rage 2:1 black pipe Paint by O’s Custom Painting (Mitch Omar http://www.ospaint.com/) Builder Boston Harley Davidson Owner: Anonymous Vote on Facebook page
Categories: BestFN Bagger Contest
Cigar Aficionado’s 2011 Cigar of the Year, need we say more? Sure – it’s not that expensive either! I’m going to start off by saying this cigar frikin’ rocks! Yeah, we’ll get into tasting notes and whatnot, but this is one of the best full cigars I’ve had in ages. The only bad thing about this Pensado is that it took me 2 years to acknowledge its existence. For all intents and purposes I’m rebranding the Pensado to El Guapo. […]
Categories: Whiskey and Cigars
by Road Captain
Vote on Facebook Page 2012 Victory Hard Ball – Posted on 8/15 at 10:00 PM Name: Bob Da, Bagger Motor is 106 1700cc Custom matt black pipes with tips custom red seat with French stitching and pleats Witchdoctors 2″ lowering link Witchdoctor gunner style pegs Vicbaggers bag fillers Avon red grips Vote on Facebook page
Categories: BestFN Bagger Contest
Submit now for the BestFN Bagger ‘n Beantown Contest. We want to hear from you. Share pictures of your sweet Bagger. Tell us the following and enter to win a custom Hoodie with indicating that you won the BestFN Contest for summer 2013! Yeah – It’s a pretty big deal! We need to know the following: Year, Make and Model of the Bike Owner’s Name (anonymously listed if you’d prefer) and builder if different General area where you live (you […]
Categories: BestFN Bagger Contest
We say and do believe it’s not about the destination, it’s about the ride. However, when it is in fact about the ride and not the destination, often times you end up in a unique place. The planned 500+ mile ride from Sturgis to Aspen was cut short due to the myriad of deer on the road and having been told by locals that the route from Leadville to Aspen was considerably more rampant with wildlife and that we’d be […]
Categories: Letters from the Editors • Tags: saloons
by Road Captain
After a great dinner at the Local in Jackson full of raw elk meat and Black Maple Hill Bourbon followed up by a few drinks at the Million Dollar Cowboy bar the 5 AM wakeup time was not welcomed by anyone. We had agreed to get on the bikes at 6 AM but when 6 AM came only three of the six of us were out by the bikes. Saddle time would be 6:45 today as we headed toward the […]
Categories: Rides & Destinations, Sturgis 2013, Trip Journals, Whiskey and Cigars
Our last evening was spent again in Vegas. We didn’t necessarily have this destination in mind during the trip nor were we certain we’d make it the 705 miles all the way down from Leadville, CO but we did. It was a welcomed stop as we’d been up at the crack of dawn, started the day out at 11,000 feet and 37 degrees and ended in the 90’s. We were worn out from the week and the day’s ride, but energized by […]
Categories: Sturgis 2013
Ever since The Tail of the Dragon the term white knuckle has been given new meaning. Specifically, on our Sturgis trip this phrase became memorialized. What’s a white knuckled ride to one may not be so to another however what remains the same is that this is a ride that shoots sparks of adrenaline through your mid section upwards causing brief perspiration on your forehead followed by ultimate alertness. This is the feeling of truly being alive – pupils dilated living in the […]
Categories: Letters from the Editors, Rides & Destinations
I’ve had the fortunate pleasure of riding to exhaustion and once at that point to where my mind starts to wander about the finer things in life like high thread count Egyptian cotton sheets and plush pillows, I’ve had to find strength to push on to the destination. Nobody likes riding tired and it sure isn’t safe, but it happens and you’ve got to be prepared for it and its implications. I remember when I was a ripe 17 years of […]
Categories: Ride Preparation, Sturgis 2013, Trip Journals
by Road Captain
Today is Sunday 8/4/2013. We arrived Salt Lake City last night around 2 AM and had planned on saddling up around 9 AM today for our trip to Red Lodge. This would be 550 miles including some of the hardest miles on the trip – Yellowstone and Beartooth pass. And then there were 8: Two of my friends with whom I had rode last year met us at 9 AM for our ride. Salt Lake City natives Bert and Jamie […]
Categories: Performance & Repairs, Sturgis 2013, Trip Journals
by Road Captain
Last night I had a chance to see one of my all time favorite bands, Mötley Crüe play the full throttle saloon and they killed it. I anticipated a painful show with a haggard Vince Neil and some band members who couldn’t hold a candle to the original four who I saw at the Worcester Centrum in 1989 when they toured with Warrant. This was one of my fondest childhood memories – it was my first time seeing a hair […]
Categories: Letters from the Editors, Sturgis 2013, Videos: Riding & Event
by Road Captain
After a 300 mile ride that got us into Vegas around 2 AM, a few drinks,some food and more time than we needed at the blackjack tables, we would call it a night around 4:30 AM. Not bad for Vegas unless you have to be on the road early the next day. Sunrise came around and 3 of the 6 of us were awake. A few hours later the rest of us threw down some greasy breakfast sandwiches and guzzled […]
Categories: Sturgis 2013, Trip Journals • Tags: maps
Here I am 34,000 ft in the air rocking like I’m in one of those heart shaped motel beds you feed quarters to. I figure the accommodations that we may be staying at along our ride from LA to South Dakota will be similar. Frankly, if we are lucky this is what we’ll come upon in the early morning hours when our buddies who don’t ride that often anymore are bitching. Ha! Fully prepared over here to be sleeping in […]
Categories: Rides & Destinations, Sturgis 2013
by Road Captain
We left Malibu today at 7PM PST for our first leg to Sturgis. The first 100 of our 300 mile day was jam packed with traffic but still great to get on a bike in the 75 degree California sun. The comfortable climate wasn’t there to stay as we found out later. From the moment we pulled out of Malibu and passed through the canyons on the way to Rt 15 the scenery was spectacular. The ride to Vegas from […]
Categories: Rides & Destinations, Sturgis 2013
by Road Captain
As the snow piled up in a brutal New England winter, one late December morning greeted five friends with that email subject line: “The Trip of a Lifetime”! The note would go on to call out the crossroads of our lives where we all currently sit. Between ages 30 and 50, live, work, family etc all normally get the best of us. As a result, of the group, only one of us has been to Sturgis though we have all […]
Categories: Rides & Destinations, Sturgis 2013
by Road Captain
Incredible Ride today starting with meeting some buddies at the Starbucks in Leominster at 14 Commercial RD. After a cup of coffee and bottle of water we were off toward Amherst and Bub’s BBQ. We decided to take all backroads and made our way toward RT 12 N to RT 101 N to Rt 119 W and then ultimately RT 32 S. The beginning of 12 N was pretty rough but smoothed out. 119 was a mess and really needs work. […]
Categories: Rides & Destinations • Tags: amherst, Athol, Holden, Leominster, Petersham, Rutland
by Road Captain
I’ve used a number of tools to plan rides in the past and some are better than others. The elements for a good ride planning application are: ability to upload images from mobile collaboration tools to receive contributions from other riders in my group check lists to keep track of packing items and destinations ability to import maps public and private switch. Some things I’ll share with the world and others should just be for my group to see potential […]
Categories: Ride Preparation, Riding Gear, Sturgis 2013
If you ride, like actually ride meaning more than from your house to the city to cruise the strip and look cool you’ll understand the need to maintain some level of physical health. I’m referring to one thing here – the lower back. As we all get older many of us will begin to experience some degree of pain. Lower back pain is very common in older dudes and if your formative years were anything like mine your likely experiencing […]
Categories: Ride Preparation
After the mishap on the Tail of the Dragon the unyielding Road King needed to be checked out so we made our way to a Harley Davidson shop out by Swannanoa, NC. Great people there by the way! Took me right in, fixed some stuff and gave me the OK to continue on for our remaining 1,500 miles safely even though I was missing some fairly important parts (like a saddlebag for example). Going off of the advice from the […]
Categories: Rides & Destinations
by Road Captain
Often I forget a couple things including how rough 95 degrees can be on a bike, especially when you’re simply trying to get somewhere and conversely how great 75 degrees feels in the same scenario. Moreover, when life gets the best of me and a week or two passes without the need to refuel my tank, I forget how important it is to escape and think. This past week offered some challenges on the personal front. I lost a close […]
Categories: Letters from the Editors
Here he lies with pistons and crank Burried up to his ass In the face of this bank He challenged the Dragon To have some fun As you can see, the Dragon won!! -Carl Cooper Deals Gap, North Carolina is home to the Tail of the Dragon. An eleven mile stretch of more twisties than you can fathom through the Smoky Mountains. No intersecting roads, no houses, many of these hairpin turns are banked, few guard rails and even fewer […]
Categories: Rides & Destinations
Your experiences are yours alone. Many may be shared, but what is impactful to you is unique based on prior life events, outlook, neurological wiring, etc. From the communication of shared experience what emerges is the understanding of how much is actually occurring at any given moment in time. It aids us also with gaining new perspective. How those different experiences are reflected upon and shared with one another matters. My longest ride, which I’d done twice (Memorial Day 2011, 2012) was […]
Categories: Rides & Destinations
by Road Captain
Right now we are 13 days from Sturgis. I’ve been in touch with a lot of people I met along the road last year and look forward to riding a few miles with old friends. The bikes just arrived to LA where we will depart as a group toward Sturgis. Again, I would rather ride everywhere but part of the fun is going with your crew. Maps are done Major stuff is packed Only need to pack my clothes and […]
Categories: Sturgis 2013
by Road Captain
In 19 days I head out to the 2013 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with five other buddies. We are taking an unconventional route (for East Coasters) as we’re starting in Malibu and heading to Sturgis from there. The route maps have been finalized (http://sprng.me/ihsh7) and I have even gone through the task of highlighting the routes on some Rand McNally paper maps. I prefer riding this way rather than using GPS as you can really see the big picture of the […]
Categories: Ride Preparation, Sturgis 2013
by Road Captain
7 months ago I put out a call to action for 5 of my closest riding compadres titled “A Trip of a Lifetime”. I would ask them to join me on a 10 day ride to Sturgis this year leaving August 2 and returning the following Sunday. Taking time off work is never easy nor is fund allocation for such a trip. To my surprise they all said they were in! It would happen – 6 of us would ride […]
Categories: Letters from the Editors, Ride Preparation, Sturgis 2013
by Road Captain
We met at a local coffee shop at daybreak around 5:30 AM on the Thursday before Memorial day (6/23/13). After a half café (I have been off of coffee for almost three weeks so this will be more than enough to get started) we would fire up the Road King and Glides respectively and set out for our first of 1,050 miles. The route we choose was specific to get us past the 1,000 mile mark, use enough highways to […]
Categories: Ride Preparation, Rides & Destinations
by Road Captain
The longest riding day I’ve ever owned was a 750 mile stretch through South Dakota on my way across the country last year. The entire trip logged me 5,200 miles (clearly not the most direct route from east to west) over two weeks. That trip was done solo but this one I’ll have a wingman for the 1,000 miles down south and then whatever miles we decide to tack on after the first destination. The trip: Head down South from […]
Categories: Ride Preparation, Rides & Destinations
Taking the bike on the road after this install is like the first cycle of andro…not that I’d know! Inside you’re amazed and maybe a bit shocked, but to the outside world you’re confident as hell, so much so that it wouldn’t be weird at all to have steam firing out your nose. It’s an experience – the new motor that is. I’d need a dual degree in art history and literature as well as a soap box to properly […]
Categories: Amazing Bikes, Parts you Need, Riding Gear
by Road Captain
A true first world dilemma is trying to make a decision between dropping $34,000 on a 2013 Harley Davidson CVO Road Glide or taking that same $34,000 to build your own bike. This is truly a problem that not many of us have to wrestle with on a daily basis. Here we’ll break down the parts and value your $34k would afford versus the options you could use should you build it yourself from a stock Road Glide Custom. Let’s […]
Categories: Amazing Bikes
by Road Captain
Early in the season is a great time to start riding – even if the weather is around 32 degrees and snow surrounds the small town roads you are hitting. Here is a little clip of some small town riding to a Jimi Hendrix classic!
Categories: Videos: Riding & Event
http://bit.ly/Yq0sEv I think a couple extra zeros were added to the left of the decimal place by accident. There may and I stress may be somebody out there who would seriously consider buying this majestic Big Bird chariot which contrary to the look they’re going for – does not fly over the rainbow. Skittles and Necco waffers come to mind. I’ve just vomited in my mouth. Seriously, Kenny Powers wouldn’t even be seen on this thing.
Categories: Rides & Destinations
It didn’t look that far on the map
Categories: Rides & Destinations
On the heels of our article – A Slippery Slope. “It’s not you, it’s me” says self to my 2009 Road King Police (FLHR). “Honestly, you’re perfect just the way you are, but you could be so much better. Don’t you want to be better?” Fairly certain, if the bike had fists it’d knock my teeth down my throat and tell me I should like it the way it is. Let’s face it, of the many things a motorcycle is […]
Categories: Amazing Bikes, Parts you Need
by Road Captain
It’s mid-March and for the past four months I’ve been excited to get on the horse and log some miles. Unlike last winter where most New England riders were able to put a few thousand miles on their vtwins, this year’s winter has been slightly more unforgiving. Snow has been a constant and we expect more on the day after tomorrow. There was no way I could wait for another dumping with the added benefit of more salt/sand to get […]
Categories: Rides & Destinations, Riding Gear, Videos: Riding & Event
by Road Captain
No, we’re not changing to become a tech review or gadget site but since this camera is built for action sports, it seems appropriate to do a review for other bikers. I have used the Go Pro Hero 2 in the past and only decided to change because the memory card in the Go Pro shit the bed on a Sturgis ride last year. Maybe I should’ve picked up a new card (and maybe I will) but there were three […]
Categories: Riding Gear, Upgrade Everything
by Road Captain
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times… Last night I went to my local cigar shop to have a glass of Highland Park 18 and smoke some cigars that I hadn’t in the past. I started with a Perdomo Habana (5 Inch 52 gauge) cigar. I have smoked Perdomos in the past and remember them as packing a serious kick. I went with a punch cut to avoid too big of a draw from such […]
Categories: Whiskey and Cigars
by Road Captain
The biker culture has always been one of freedom with an attitude of – “screw it, lets just ride!” Historically, there has been no room for judgment and your value was based in three things: 1. Can you keep up 2. Can you help fix my hog when I’m stuck roadside 3. Are you the type of person with whom I can have a drink after a great day of riding? Nowhere in the biker by laws does anybody mention […]
Categories: Letters from the Editors
by Road Captain
Taking a stock motorcycle and customizing it has become a right of passage for bikers. We put our own stamp on the machine. It becomes unique – personalized – ours. The options are endless and ideas provided by other bikers, magazines and ebay. It’s no longer a question of “if” you’re going to customize your bike but what you’re going to do first and how long you’re going to take it. Where do you start? Most people like much of […]
Categories: Parts you Need, Riding Gear
by Road Captain
http://bit.ly/YCMcqS 2012 Misfit King Rage complete one-off custom bagger! You are looking at the Sickest Road King on the market. I built this bike for myself but now I got new ideas for the next one. Time for a new home. This Bike will be featured on the cover of Hot Bike May issue of 2013. Your chance to own a cover bike like this! Misfit Baggers 2012 Single Down Tube Pro-Street frame (2009-2013 Harley OEM Replacement frame) Harley Davidson […]
Categories: eBay bike of the week
Great finds come out of nowhere, unexpectedly or from seeking them out as a destination ride. I’ve experienced both and though the surprises take the cake the planned destination rides are still thrilling. After all, you can decide what winding and desolate roads you take to get there and are semi-assured where you’re ending up is going to satisfy your thirst for new experiences. I’m not exactly setting this up to undersell and over deliver, but sometimes a good call […]
Categories: Rides & Destinations • Tags: Eats, Letters from the Editors
Starting Bid: $20,000 The seller’s description: “This is a custom built single down tube rigid bike that was built to have that old boardtrack feel. Professionally built she has a ton of time put into making sure everything works as good as it looks. 1981 Shovel bottom end completely gone through. New Primo primary, clutch, belt, pulleys everything. Late Knucklehead top end with fresh pistons, valves, springs etc. endless hours went into making this combo work together, It’s an ol […]
Categories: eBay bike of the week
by Road Captain
No less than once every month, a potential new biker says to me “I’m looking to learn how to ride, want to take the (road test) and get a bike – what would you suggest?” Buying your first bike is not an easy decision – especially when you don’t know much about the pastime in the first place. Elements to consider are: 1. Cost – Your disposable funds 2. The type of cycle that you want- sport bike versus cruiser […]
Categories: Amazing Bikes
The most profound experience in riding while cutting through open road is being in the scenery, not viewing it from within an encased hunk of metal and plastic. And though innately we feel a connection to these roads less traveled it’s important to remember we are guests of these places – wherever that may be for you. Native we are not. Let’s call it like it is, bikers don’t exactly roll through town in an unobtrusive and inconspicuous fashion. And […]
Categories: Letters from the Editors, Rides & Destinations
by Road Captain
I’m headed to Phoenix AZ to do a but of riding. I’ll be taking a 2012 softail Slim out for the day. I have put a lot of miles on softies over the past decade and look forward to spending a full day on one as opposed to a touring model. Below are the specs from the mo co: http://bit.ly/XIrich I’m looking forward to seeing how the machine handles 300+ miles, corners and picks up with stock pieces. My softail […]
Categories: Amazing Bikes
by Road Captain
Who has these? Do they work as well as everybody says they do?
Categories: Parts you Need
by Road Captain
I remember this image from the days following the Japanese Tsunami a few years ago. A man who one assumes lost everything standing along side his machine. I’m under no delusion that this thing would run or that he was in any way experiencing relief from the tragedy of days past but this image did convey some hope of normalcy in what was otherwise a horrific period for a region. I often wonder what ever happened to this man and […]
Categories: Letters from the Editors
Challenge Yourself - Compete Against the World!
Run with the force
A motorcycle journey
The Trooper invades America
Beantown Baggers